Opening night a success

8:34 AM, 09.01.2006

By Steve Cavendish

Good party thrown by the Orlando folks. The reception was moved indoors (mainly to avoid the ridiculous humidity left by Ernesto, but there was a threat of rain, too), but that didn't seem to matter to anyone.

The biggest reason for the success may have come from Houston, when Scott Goldman started thinking about a different way to do the SND Foundation fundraiser, a task that falls to the Vice President. Hence, Casino night.

Some highlights:

  • Some showed up in a full tux. No word on whether he was ordering his martini shaken, not stirred.
  • It was extremely interactive. From the craps and blackjack tables where you couldn't find a spot to the hold-em tournament where a hundred or so folks were gathered around the final table to watch, it was great fun.
  • A student won the big raffle prize, a new MacBook. Awesome.
  • As Goldman emceed the final table, there were howls when it was announced that, yes, one of the two final players was from . . . Vegas. RINGER!
  • No word yet on the final total raised, but I'm sure it was good.


















    Mark Friesen
    The Oregonian
    | AIM: newsdziner

    Steve Cavendish
    Chicago Tribune

    Tim Ball
    San Jose Mercury News

    Will Sullivan
    PalmBeachPost.com





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